Unwanted outcome from generosity
Minister: Foreign beggars flock to Malaysia drawn by nation’s development, generous nature of its people
We need to take action in dealing with this problem to avoid any sensitive issues arising. We also need to constantly monitor their movements because the activity of asking for alms is being carried out on a random basis, and it is suspected to be organised by certain syndicates.
— Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Women, Family and Community Development Minister
KUCHING: The generosity of Malaysians has led to many foreign beggars coming to the country to earn easy money, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
According to the Santubong MP, various efforts to curb begging activities involving foreigners have been carried out by the Welfare Department (JKM) together with several other agencies such as the police, the Immigration Department and the local authorities.
“Our country is progressing, developing, coupled with the generous attitude of the people to give donations, these are the things that attract many foreigners to beg, and the number increases during the month of Ramadan.
“This is the challenge we have to face now and we are always working with other agencies to deal with the issue of beggars, especially the foreigners,” she told reporters when met after distributing food baskets to the needy folks at Surau Al Hijrah in Darul Hana housing area here yesterday.
Nancy was asked to comment on the influx of foreign beggars in major cities around the country as of late.
She also noted that the problem was still persisting because many of the foreign beggars were also under syndicates.
Thus, she said her ministry was working with other agencies in looking for ways to ensure that the integrated operations would be carried out regularly to curb such activity.
“We need to take action in dealing with this problem to avoid any sensitive issues arising.
“We also need to constantly monitor their movements because the activity of asking for alms is being carried out on a random basis, and it is suspected to be organised by certain syndicates,” she pointed out.
Earlier, Nancy handed over food baskets and also ‘Bubur Lambuk’ to 432 low-income families from 14 villages under her Santubong parliamentary constituency.
Also present was Deputy Minister for Utilities and Telecommunications Sarawak Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who is Pantai Damai assemblyman.